WHEN ROOKS START HOUSEKEEPING 21 



It may not be until the nests are finished, or even 

 until the eggs are laid early in March, that the rooks 

 stay at night in the rookery. In the evening, when 

 it is time to go to the roosting-place, we see that some 

 are nervous about departing, fearful lest they shall 

 be plundered when they go. And sometimes a cunning 

 rogue does linger behind, or returns after others have 

 departed, hastily to snatch a few sticks from a neigh- 

 bour's collection. 



Rooks display extraordinary antics in their wooing. 



When these building troubles are ended, and the 

 great nest, about two feet across, is finished, and 

 lined with dry grass or moss, it is very pleasant to 

 hear the soft " caw, caw " of the stay-at-home wives 

 when their faithful mates come in to feed them with 

 food picked up far away. Then we hear a peculiar 

 deep gruff note from the incoming bird, as he pitches 

 and rolls homeward against the March gale : his beak 

 being so crammed with food that he cannot announce 

 his return very clearly. 



